Happy Birthday Geeta!

We had the pleasure of attending Geeta's 7th birthday celebration (Laxmi's daughter).

This is the lovely and curious Geeta. She periodically accompanies Laxmi during the evenings while she prepares dinner. Our apartment then becomes her hunting ground. She likes to inspect the rooms, play with our computers, draw and take pictures, get into Meli's pencil box and my make-up bag, and she loves to speak to us in Hindi as if we understood.

Auntie picked us up around 8:30pm and walked us over to Laxmi's home. Before then, we had no idea where or how close Laxmi lived to us. We soon found out that she lives in a slum neighborhood tucked behind some apartments just across the street. It was dark outside, but we managed to slither through some narrow/unpaved pathway without harm. Laxmi, her husband, two children and sister in law share a room the size of a standard US laundry room. They didn't have much, but Laxmi said they are "very happy" as she proudly noted that her union was a "love marriage." We were humbled to take part in the celebration. <3

I will spare you the details on the celebration, and let the pictures do the talking.

Eva's Journey to Speaking Hindi PART II

Good morning/good evening class! lol

I am happy to announce that I have moved from single words to small phrases... On the flip side, I am embarrassed to share that my Hindi is still BROKEN and in dire need of a linguistic mechanic. Here is what I have learned since my last post:

• dadaji- paternal grandfather
• dadiji- paternal grandmother
• naniji- maternal grandmother
  
• nanaji- maternal grandfather
• chalo!- You go!
• ou!- Come!
• kripya- please
• ghitdi (jeetdee)- demanding... this is often how Laxmi refers to her daughter Geeta lol
• me apse pyiar bohot car du- I love you very much
• tom paghal ho- you are mad/crazy!
• apkaise pasan karte ho _____?- do you like _____?
• paghal- crazy
• gussa- angry
• agla- next
• mera favorite - my favorite
• apka favorite _____ kya he?- What is your favorite _______?
• tora, tora- little little (I say "tora tora Hindi. English me")
• mera nehi- not me
• chaldhi, chaldhi- hurry, hurry!
• mujhe nehi patah- I don't know
• mujhe bhook lag rahi hai- I am hungry!
  

For the next phrases and words I need to give you some context. Today during class, Poonam and Varsha insisted that I take pictures. My first response was:

• last me- at the end (of class)

Then, they began to pout, slid their thumb forward from their chin, and said:

• katti- I am 'breaking friendship with you'
  

I immediately cracked up remembering the Mexican cortala ritual. For those of you unfamiliar with the tradition, it's a 'breaking friendship' ritual wherein your index fingers face each other and the person who is being 'cut', proceeds to sever the connecting fingers with her index finger, and thereby agrees to end the friendship. This is very common among children, although I have known some adults to engage in such behavior. haha

Lastly, they said:

• baat nehi carengue- I am not speaking to you!

After some tickling and cheek pinching, this is how the argument ended...

by giving in and taking pictures. lol


That concludes today's lesson... Sorry that my progress has been as slow as atole.

Rishikesh Day 3 & 4: Have we forgotten our Mother?

The most impressive part of DAY 3 was the Arti Ceremony. Arti, often called "the ceremony of lights," is the most popular Hindu ceremony involving gurus, holy people, and other divine representations (like Shiva, Lord of Mercy and Compassion). The ceremony lasted about 45 minutes and consisted of chanting, the passing of a five-wick lamp and other items. During the ceremony, members of the congregation pass their fingers over the flame and touch their foreheads. They also sprinkle water from the Ganga River (per Indian name) over their heads. It was a wonderful ceremony to witness. In concert with the sunset and the sounds of the swollen river, the chants and lights offered a space for reflection and prayer. The stillness of the wind, allowed me to bask in the prayers lifted by my sisters/brothers; to feel their most intimate of desires and needs. Without any promise of delivery, they chanted, clapped, and prayed faithfully. I wondered if Abuelita Lupe was there and followed by lifting a prayer for my loved ones. My prayer included YOU. <3





Keeping with the theme of enlightenment and awareness, we actively searched for a Yoga class on DAY 4-- after all, Rishikesh is the 'Yoga Capital of the World.' After visiting several Yoga Studios, we were fortunately referred to an ashram where we received FREE personalized instruction, tea, watermelon, and had the privilege of meeting Guruji, the founder of the ashram and most revered man by his followers. Having taken a break from Yoga, it was a challenging yet invigorating experience.





We couldn't leave without visiting her... the Ganga River. She was swollen and cold after the showers from days before. She flowed steady raising the dirt which tinted her with the color brown. Excited to make her acquaintance, I removed my shoes and held the chain attached to a cemented pole as I descended into her womb. Her initial coldness was shocking. It was as if the coldness acted as a defense mechanism alerting her visitors to her strength and value. She felt me and I felt her. Soon, the coldness disappeared and with it went my hesitation to submerge myself in her. "Ram, ram, 1; ram, ram , 2..." I chanted while holding hands with some beautiful young women from Rajasthan, India. With each submersion, she enveloped me with her warmth and energy. I realized that more than washing my body, she had given me a portal into her hurt. Her exasperation became mine. Together we pained over the harm woman/man had violently inflicted upon her, her mother, and her father. Ashamed of my neglect (our neglect) I apologized.... "Forgive us sister, for we have wronged you!"

Have we forgotten our mother?

**You can find a video of the arti ceremony on the side bar.

Rishikest Day 2: You know you're a tourist when...

The second day was characterized by two things: 1) lots of pictures, and 2) classical tourist mistakes. After having breakfast, Meli and I walked along the river bank. In route to Laxman Julha, the neighboring city, we met
Lashi Baba (in the red), who accurately guessed Meli's Iranian background and invited us to have some chai. Typically we would refuse, but we gladly accepted the offer because: a) it was in an open space, b) we were in dire need of fuel, and c) tea was being prepared by a lovely boy, aged 12, whose name escapes me (in the white and brown shirt). Btw-the little girl is in the photo Sona, the boy's niece.

Here is where the photo extravaganza began. Left and right people greeted us, inquired about our country of origin, and requested pictures (if you recall a previous post, I mentioned that Indians are fascinated by tourist, especially "White" tourist). Some went as far as asking "Can we take a picture shaking hands?" (This one make me feel as though I was an ambassador to the US lol- which technically I am, but you get what I mean). At first I didn't know how to feel about it, but considering that I, and every other national geographic photographer, takes pictures of Indian people without consent, their request seemed like a courteous and fair exchange (ha ha). In fact, it became fun once I started asking to take pictures with them, in return.

Following tea, we proceeded onto Laxman Julha. This was not intended to be a hike, but it turned into one. Lashi Baba had mentioned that the Full Chooti (small waterfall) was about 3km up- which didn't seem like a long distance- so we decided to give it a gander in our chanclas/shoes --which we ruined. We hiked for about an hour to the small waterfall, instead of hiring a taxi; this was tourist mistake number 1. Minus the heat, humidity, ever-present threat of an attack by a monkey, and the lack of appropriate shoes, it was worth it.

So onto mistake number 2... as we were descending from the hike to the first waterfall, we met four men who kindly offered to drive us up to the "big" waterfall, which was located 2 km up the mountain. Considering that we were without a taxi and energy, we accepted their offer. The waterfall was breathtaking.

I call getting in a car with four men a mistake, not because they were bad people, but because it probably violates some "tourist rules of engagement" as they pertain to women. But what were we to do? Meli's chancla ripped, we were 6 kms away from our guesthouse, no taxis were in sight, and night was falling upon us-- we needed a ride. What sucked was that, the guys, who had promised to return us to the city by 6:30pm for the Arti ceremony, were so involved in their personal fun that they neglected to follow through on their promise on top of dropping us off a ways out of the town we were staying in.

Lastly, I think mother nature scolded us with her heavy rain... lol As we were walking to the guesthouse, it began to pour. We had to run home in about 3 inches of water- at this point my chanclas didn't mind it because they were already ruined. I should have paid attention to the signs (i.e. we were eaten by mosquitoes, it was humid, etc.), but instead, Meli and I decided to hike in non-hiking sandals, to forgo the taxi, and to get in the car with perfect strangers. All and all, we are glad that beside their Justin Bieber and Akon loving ways, they were respectful and gracious enough to give us a ride; even if it was hours after.